A Degree Of Accomplishment

Lakes Resident Studied 10 Years To Finish His Bachelor's In History.

Menachem "Henri" Hager has been many things during his lifetime -- sailor, electrician, house painter, factory worker, artist and now, at age 82, college graduate.

"I was never a good sailor or electrician or house painter, even," Hager said. "But now I can teach youngsters and help them learn."

Hager's odyssey through life and how he become Florida Atlantic University's oldest graduate at this summer's commencement is a twisting tale that spins out from his youth under Nazi rule in his native Tunisia to a 3-year-old promise kept to his dying wife, Ellen, to complete the road to a college degree.

It took Hager, who lives in Lauderdale Lakes, 10 years to receive his bachelor's degree in history. He credits teachers at Broward Community College for giving him the confidence he needed at the outset to realize that he had the ability to graduate from college. It took him six years to receive his associate's degree and enter FAU.

But it was the love of his life, Ellen, who motivated him to get his degree. Hager met her, an Ohio State graduate, aboard a ship. "I loved her intelligence, her sense of humor. People always told me that she has a terrific personality. She was so bright, much brighter than me. When you go to university, you find that women are more advanced than men."

Hager said she used his love of reading, music and linguistics -- he speaks six languages -- to push him toward a degree.

"I didn't think I was a man of numbers, but Broward Community College has a technique to teach guys like me," he said. "They gave me a foundation for learning. Many nights I would stay up to 11:30 studying, I wanted to take it all in."

Hager's infectious personality and enthusiasm for life made him a campus favorite. As he walked across the gym to receive his degree, the audience rose for a standing ovation.

He says that his thirst for education hasn't been satisfied. "My father always wanted me to be a doctor, so I think I will sign up for classes in human anatomy and chemistry."

Hager wants to teach inner-city children and hopes to get a position teaching two or three days a week.

"I know it is difficult to grow up in a single-parent home," he said. "History is my passion. I want to teach my young friends about history. Children must be reasoned with; they must want to learn. I'll use some tricks to capture their attention and then help them learn about the history of the world."

Hager said too many people are wasting away because they are not active in their retirement.

"They sit around endlessly complaining about their aches and pains or debating politics and accomplishing nothing about things they can't do anything about," he said.

"My advice to them is learn something. Learn to play a sport -- they could learn golf or tennis -- or they can learn to play a musical instrument. There are many opportunities to learn if you just take advantage of what is available.

"My friends tell me that I should slow down and relax and maybe do something like go on a cruise,'" said Hager. "I tell them that I was a sailor for 10 years, and there are too many storms."

Do you have a recent story of hope? Have you overcome adversity in raising a family, been involved in a rescue or beaten the odds medically? Contact Steve Plunkett at splunkett@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4775.